Glaciers, the immense rivers of ice, are among the most fascinating natural wonders of our planet. These massive ice bodies, formed over centuries, play a crucial role in shaping the Earth’s landscape and influencing its climate. But what exactly is a glacier, and why are they so important?
Definition of a glacier: A glacier is a persistent body of dense ice that is constantly moving under its own weight. It forms when snow accumulates over time, compresses, and turns into ice. Glaciers are found in areas where the annual snowfall exceeds the rate at which the snow melts. This process can take hundreds to thousands of years, resulting in vast, thick ice formations.
1. There are two primary types of glaciers:
Alpine Glaciers: Also known as mountain glaciers, these are found in high mountainous regions. They flow down valleys and can form spectacular landscapes, such as U-shaped valleys and fjords. Glaciers in Norway are Alpine Glaciers.
Continental Glaciers: These are larger and cover extensive land areas. The two remaining ice sheets, found in Greenland and Antarctica, are prime examples. These ice sheets are so massive that they hold most of the Earth’s freshwater reserves.
Jostedalsbreen Glacier in Norway. Photo: Thomas T. Kleiven - VisitNorway.com
2. How glaciers form and move
The formation of glaciers begins with snowflakes, which compact under the weight of new snowfall. Over time, the compacted snow turns into firn, a granular type of snow. With continued compression, firn becomes dense glacial ice.
Glaciers move due to gravity and their immense weight. This movement occurs through two main processes:
Internal Deformation: The ice within the glacier deforms and flows slowly.
Basal Sliding: The glacier slides over the bedrock, lubricated by a thin layer of meltwater at its base.
Kayaking near the Folgefonna Glacier in Norway. Photo: Fjord Norway
3. The impact of glaciers
Glaciers have a profound impact on the Earth’s topography. Their movement carves out valleys, shapes mountains, and transports vast amounts of rock and debris. When glaciers retreat, they leave behind unique landforms such as moraines, eskers, and drumlins. The Norwegian fjords was created by glaciers that made U-shaped valleys by segregation through several ice ages. The valleys were then filled with water from the sea. You can read more about Norwegian fjords here.
4. Glaciers and climate change
Due to climate change and rising global temperatures, the glaciers in Norway, as well as other glaciers globally, are sadly in rapid retreat. This means that the glaciers you may have visited just a few years ago, may look very different today.
Melting glaciers in turn means a transformation of the landscape, were shifting flows of water and new landscape occurs.
Although rare and regularly monitored by the authorities, one risk from rapidly melting glaciers is that large volumes of water suddenly can be released from lakes that are dammed by the glacier itself. This phenomenon is known as Jøkullaup.
5. How many glaciers are there in Norway?
It depends a bit on how you count, how you divide the glaciers, and what is included. A common number is 2,534 glaciers in Norway if you look at a report from NVE from 2022.
Looking at glaciers divided into ice sections, there are 38 glaciers with an area over 10 km². If you include all glaciers over 0.1 km², there are a total of 1,678 glaciers.
These glaciers cover about 2,600 square kilometers and are primarily located in the western and northern parts of the country.
Ice melting could cause the glacier to divide and split into different sections, potentially increasing the count of individual sections even as the total square meters of the glacier decreases.
Bonus: How to visit a glacier from Bergen, Norway?
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway, located on the west coast surrounded by the Norwegian Fjords Sognefjorden in the north and Hardangerfjorden in the south. The closest glacier to visit is Folgefonna and you can reach the glacier on a day trip from Bergen. However, we do recommend spending a few days in the region around the glacier to get the full experience. The village Rosendal one hour from the glacier is a perfect place to include in your glacier visit.
When exploring the beautiful landscapes of glaciers, understanding and prioritizing safety is essential for ensuring a successful and memorable experience. Please take note of the following safety tips:
Safety tips
- Glaciers are beautiful but can also be dangerous. Without a guide or professional experience, getting too close or stepping onto the glacier may lead to serious injury or death.
- Glaciers are in constant movement and ice calving may occur without any warning. Keep a safe distance from the edge of the glacier, to stay clear of the risk of getting hit by falling ice or rock.
- If you want to experience the glacier up close, you should always use a certified guide. Dangerous crevasses may be hidden under a thin layer off snow. Without a guide or professional experience, you should never walk onto the ice.
- The climate around glaciers is special, so be prepared for sudden changes in the weather. As always, our tips for hiking in the nature applies for all nature-based activities.
Read more about glacier tours from Bergen.
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